Change return mechanism for vending machines



Feb. 2, 1943. c. E. LAY 2,309,873-

CHANGE RETURN MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed Nov 8, 194], 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FmCRCU IT INSERT 25 CENT com HERE I COIN DETECTOR INVENTOR.

' wrzraw My 1 Feb. 2, 1943. c. E. LAY

CHANGE RETURN MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed Nov. 8, 1941 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III [1111 1 1 I I INVENTOR.

Gnkarafifi 14f Patented Feb. 2, 1943 CHANGE RETURN MECHANISM FOR VENDING rmcnmns cal-non E. Lay, Akron, Ohio Application November 8, 1941, Serial No. 418,303

3 Claims. (Cl. 194-10) v This invention relates to coin changers forvending machines. I

This is a device for use with slot machines which are operated by the insertion of a nickel and which on insertion of such coin deliver the desired article.

The present device contemplates the addition on such machines, of devices which will operate the machine on the insertion of a coin of greater value, as a dime or a quarter and will not only deliver the goods but will return to the purchaser the change due him.

The vending machine on which the device is used may beany one of a numberof types in which the release is effected by energization of an electric circuit and in and of itself has no part in the present invention. Illustration of such device is, therefore, omitted.

Machines of this type ordinarily have a coin detector, of which several types may r,be purchased in the open market, through which the coin must pass, these devices separating out and rejecting spurious coins, slugs, or coins of incorrect denomination and passing genuine coins of the proper denomination for operation of the machine. One type of these detectors is herein outlined, but the detail of its design and action not, being a part of the present invention, is not herein set out.

The object of the present device is to provide change return mechanism which will return the correct change substantially concurrently with energization of the vending release-circuit subsequent to insertion of a proper value coin of greater value than the merchandise which is delivered.

The means by which this object and other objects are accomplished, and the manner of their accomplishment will readily be understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partially in section, of a change return device adapted to return four or one nickel selectively in response to respective insertion of a twenty-five cent or a ten cent coin, as the case may be, and in connection therewith shows the outline of a twenty-five cent coin detector and a ten cent coin detector and diagrammatically the respective circuits energized there- Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation taken on the line II-II of Fig. 3 and substantially on the line IIII of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan taken on the line III-III of Fig. 2.

' Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals:

II and l3'are coin detectors, here shown as respectively for twenty-five and ten cent coins, showing respectively a twenty-five cent coin i5 and a ten cent coin II which have passed through their respective detectors to initiating position, it being understood that while both are shown obviously only one or the other would be inserted at any particular time.

I9 is a casing in which the change return mechanismis housed. Extending into this casing is a vertically disposed tube 2| adapted to hold and successively feed downward by gravity nickels 23. Spaced below the bottom of the tubee slightly in excess of the thickness of four nickels 23-A, 23-3, 23-C, 23D, is a bottom plate, 25

adapted to support the column of nickels, this" plate being here shown as underlying somewhat more than one-half of the bottom of the column in order that it may provide a support which will support nickels in level position.

Underlying and extending downward from the plate 25 is a wall 21, and spaced forwardly from this is a wall 29, which walls, in cooperation with side walls 3|, establish a delivery chute 33 for nickels which are displaced from thebottom 25. Intermediate the height of the chute 33 is a swinging door 35 biased for closure as by a light spring 31 and adapted to prevent access-from below to the column of nickels, this door swinging downwardly under the weight of a nickel to permit passage of such nickels as are displaced, and their delivery into a pocket 38 which is ascessible to the customer and from which he may retrieve the nickels returned.

Cooperating to eject coins from the bottom of the stack of coins in the tube 2| are substantially similar mechanisms which have been respectively designated with the letter A for the 'twentyfive cent and the letter B for the ten cent coins. In these mechanisms 39A is an electromagnet adapted for energization when a twenty-five cent coin is used. 40-A is an armature hingedly mounted at one end as on a pin 4l-A, biased open as by a spring 42-A, andadapted to be and closed by energization of the magnet, this armature being extended to carry an ejector 43 A which has a thickness slightly less than the four nickels 23--A, B,"C,' and D, even though they be worn nickels, in order that no engagement-be had with the fifth nickel.

39--B is a similar magnet, 40-43 the corresponding armature, and 43-3 the corresponding ejector. this mechanism being adapted for-energization by a ten cent coin. The ejector l3B has a thickness slightly less than one-nickel. The two ejectors are positioned in adjacency immediately rearward of the stack of nickels in the coin tube 2| and are independently operable to effect nickel displacement. The two magnets are disposed in opposite sides of the coin tube with their polar axes andarmature axes in a plane at right angles to the axis of the coin tube and the hinged ends of the armatures remote from the tube. v

---A, "-3 are switches which are closed by levers 45-A, 45-3, respectively extending into the path of the twenty-five and ten cent coins l5, I1, these levers being adapted to be depressed by the weights of the respective coins-and when so depressed to close their respective circuits.

46 is a power circuit, furnishing current source, which is connected as by a lead 41A to one pole of the switch and by leads 48-A, 49-A, respectively to the article release mechanism and the magnet 39A, and similarly connected by leads ll-B, 48-3, and 49-3 to the same article release mechanism, and the magnet 39-B. 50-A, 5|--A, and 50B, 5IB, are the corresponding return leads.

In operating the device, if a person wishing to operate the vending machine has the correct change, in this case a nickel, he operates the machine in the usual way through the mechanismthereon, which is not here shown. If, however, he has no change, or otherwise prefers, he may insert a twenty-five cent coin in the slot of the coin detector ll, such coin, if good, passing through the detector, depressing the arm 45--A and closing the switch 44-A. This action energizes the article release for delivery of the article and concurrently energizes the magnet 39A attracting the armature ll-A and forcing the ejector 43-A against the lower four coins 23-A, B, C, and D, displacing these coins into the chute 33 through which they drop past the swinging door 35 into the coin pocket 39, from which the customer may retrieve his change. Should the customer have and desire to use a dime he in serts same in the slot of the coin detector l3 and the same sequence is accomplished, except that the magnet 39B is energized and the single thickness ejector 43-B is actuated, displacing only the lowest coin 23-D into and through the chute 33, and into the coin pocket 39, from which the customer may retrieve his change.

I claim:

1. In a vending device having an electrically actuatable release, and a source of electric current; a pair of switches biased open and adapted for respective 'closure by insertions of coins of different denominations and of greater Value than the vending charge, and wiring circuits each including a said switch connecting said release and said circuit source, and biased open by said switch; means for returning the respective amounts of change subsequent to coin insertion, including a vertically disposed tube adapted to hold a stacked column of superposed coins, a support for said coin column spaced below the lower end of said tube to permit displacement of a plurality of said coins, a pair of ejector units disposed on laterally opposite sides of said tube, each unit including an electro-magnet coupled to a said wiring circuit, and having its polar axis disposed in a plane substantially at right angles to the axis of said tube, and an armature hingedly mounted at its end remote from said tube, andnormally biased open, each said armaa ture having an extension terminating rearwardly of said coin tube and carrying an ejector extending forwardly into adjacency with said column of coins in saidtube; one said ejector being of a thickness adapted to engage a selected plurality of said coins and the other said ejector being of a thickness to engage one said coin only, the bottoms of both said ejectors lying in adjacency to the level of the top of said support, whereby the first said ejector will engage the lowest said plurality of coins and the second said ejector will engage the lowest coin only of said coin column, and respectively on energization of their respective magnets eject the engaged coins.

2. In a. vending device having an electrically actuatable release, and a source of electric current; a pair of switches biased open and adapted for respective closure by insertions of coins of different denominations and of greater value than thevending charge, and wiring circuits each including a said switch connecting said release and said circuit source, and biased open by said switch; means for returning the respective amounts of change subsequent to coin insertion, including a vertically disposed tube adapted to hold a stacked column of superposed coins, a support for said coin column spaced below the lower end of said tube to permit displacement of a plurality of said coins, a pair of ejector units disposed on laterally opposite sides of said tube, each unit including an electro-magnet coupled to a said wiring'circuit, and having its polar axis disposed in a plane substantially at right angles to the axis of said tube, an armature hingedly mounted at its end remote from said tube, and normally biased open, each said armature having an extension terminating rearwardly of said coin tube and carrying an ejector extending forwardly into adjacency with said column of coins in said tube; each said ejector being of thickness slightly less than the thickness of the one or more coins comprising its related said change, the bottoms of both said ejectors lying in adjacency to the level of the top of said support, whereby each said ejector will displace'the respectively required lowest coins only of said coin column, responsive to energization of its respective said magnet.

3. In a nickel responsive vending device having an electrically actuatable release, and a source of electric current; a pair of switches biased open and adapted for closure by insertion of coins of twenty-five and ten cent denominations respectively, and wiring circuits each including a said switch connecting said release and said circuit source, and biased open by said switch; means for returning the respective amounts of change subsequent to coin insertion, including a vertically disposed tube adapted to hold a stacked column of superposed nickels, a support for said coin column spaced below the lower end of said tube to permit displacement of a plurality of said nickels, a pair of ejector units disposed on laterally opposite sides of said tube, each unit including an eIectro-magnet coupled to a said wiring circuit, and having its polar axis disposed in a plane substantially at right angles to the axis of said tube, and an armature hingedly mounted at its end remote from said tube, and normally biased open, each said armature having an extension terminating rearwardly of said tube and carrying an ejector extending forwardly into adjacency with said column ofnickels in said tube; one said ejector being of a thickness adapted to engage four of said coins and the other said ejector being of thickness to engage one nickel only, the bottoms of both said ejectors lying in adjacency to the level of the top of said support, whereby the first said ejector will engage the lowest four nickels of said column,

and the second said ejector will engage the lowest nickel only of said column, and respectively on energization of their respective magnets eject the engaged coins.

CARLTON E. LAY. 

